What does an elementary school teacher do?
Elementary school teachers are trained to provide education to children from kindergarten through fifth grade. The teachers are responsible for children's emotional and educational growth in the classroom. They manage the resources and materials to be used for their education. It is part of their duties to evaluate the students' performance, social development, physical health, and behavior. Also, they adapt to teaching methods and instructions to meet the interests and needs of the children.
Elementary school teacher responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real elementary school teacher resumes:
- Offer leave of absence for remainder of school yearupon adoption of twin girls from Russia.
- Help kids expend excess energy so they can sit still in regular classes for the rest of the afternoon.
- Differentiate lessons to fit the needs of students in the ESL program, students with special needs, and gift students.
- Create innovative PowerPoint presentation for daily lesson.
- Create various PowerPoint presentations for multiple projects.
- Develop innovative approaches to literacy development and mathematics teaching.
- Facilitate instructions using differentiation for ESL and general students.
- Implement culturally responsive teaching through literature in a diverse classroom.
- Assist regular classroom teacher with various activities including everyday math lessons.
- Facilitate literature circles to increase student enjoyment of reading and positive communication skills.
- Implement various student-centered learning methodologies including developing daily math lessons using alternative teaching models.
- Cultivate a classroom climate that promote meeting individualize education goals as planned at IEP meetings.
- Collaborate with colleagues through PLC.
- Attend regional PBIS conference with the assistant principal to present to school committee members.
- Serve as leader of PLC for school-wide planning.
Elementary school teacher skills and personality traits
We calculated that 18% of Elementary School Teachers are proficient in Classroom Management, Math, and Professional Development. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Patience, and Physical stamina.
We break down the percentage of Elementary School Teachers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Classroom Management, 18%
Create lesson plans based on long term curricular goals Develop classroom management system and procedures Participate in professional development workshops and discussions
- Math, 9%
Participated in weekly principal lead data clusters and professional development as well as Literacy and Math Professional Developments.
- Professional Development, 9%
Differentiated instruction for students in a multicultural setting -Conducted professional development in Developmental Spelling -Fostered a community within the classroom.
- Mathematics, 8%
Developed curriculum for a 32 student classroom that fostered independence and encouraged social development while teaching reading, writing and mathematics.
- Social Studies, 4%
Facilitated Turn-and-Talk whereby students engage in discussion with a partner about different social studies concepts being presented.
- Instructional Materials, 4%
Prepared instructional materials and develop homework assignments based on individual assessment of student needs and academic progress.
"classroom management," "math," and "professional development" are among the most common skills that elementary school teachers use at work. You can find even more elementary school teacher responsibilities below, including:
Communication skills. The most essential soft skill for an elementary school teacher to carry out their responsibilities is communication skills. This skill is important for the role because "teachers need to discuss students’ needs with parents and administrators." Additionally, an elementary school teacher resume shows how their duties depend on communication skills: "demonstrated the ability to teach communication and problem solving skills in a positive classroom environment using appropriate discipline when needed. "
Patience. Many elementary school teacher duties rely on patience. "kindergarten and elementary school teachers must respond with patience when students struggle with material," so an elementary school teacher will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways elementary school teacher responsibilities rely on patience: "utilized classroom management skills, active participation, patience, and cooperative learning to create astudent centered environment. "
Physical stamina. elementary school teachers are also known for physical stamina, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to elementary school teacher responsibilities, because "working with kindergarten- and elementary-age students can be tiring." An elementary school teacher resume example shows how physical stamina is used in the workplace: "create classroom environment conducive to learning and appropriate for the physical, social, and emotional development of student. "
The three companies that hire the most elementary school teachers are:
- Chester Community Charter School
166 elementary school teachers jobs
- KinderCare Education62 elementary school teachers jobs
- Edmond Public Schools19 elementary school teachers jobs
Choose from 10+ customizable elementary school teacher resume templates
Build a professional elementary school teacher resume in minutes. Our AI resume writing assistant will guide you through every step of the process, and you can choose from 10+ resume templates to create your elementary school teacher resume.
Compare different elementary school teachers
Elementary school teacher vs. 5th grade teacher
A 5th Grade Teacher is responsible for educating children and teaching them subjects like math, English, science, or art. They work in a public or private school at the elementary level.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between elementary school teachers and 5th grade teacher. For instance, elementary school teacher responsibilities require skills such as "mathematics," "classroom environment," "curriculum development," and "physical education." Whereas a 5th grade teacher is skilled in "classroom environment conducive," "grade mathematics," "data analysis," and "summative assessments." This is part of what separates the two careers.
5th grade teachers really shine in the education industry with an average salary of $48,617. Comparatively, elementary school teachers tend to make the most money in the government industry with an average salary of $56,048.The education levels that 5th grade teachers earn slightly differ from elementary school teachers. In particular, 5th grade teachers are 4.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than an elementary school teacher. Additionally, they're 0.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Elementary school teacher vs. 2nd grade teacher
A 2nd-grade teacher specializes in educating young children, providing them with a safe and efficient classroom environment. One of their primary responsibilities is to devise strategies to improve the students' academic knowledge and interpersonal skills, craft effective lesson plans, and enhance their reading and writing skills. Moreover, a teacher must assess the students' progress by conducting tests and quizzes, encouraging them to learn through various activities, monitoring the children's behavior, and reporting to their parents should there be any concerns.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, elementary school teacher responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "mathematics," "classroom environment," "curriculum development," and "instructional strategies." Meanwhile, a 2nd grade teacher has duties that require skills in areas such as "kindergarten," "bulletin boards," "literature," and "classroom environment conducive." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
On average, 2nd grade teachers earn a lower salary than elementary school teachers. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, 2nd grade teachers earn the most pay in the education industry with an average salary of $46,266. Whereas elementary school teachers have higher pay in the government industry, with an average salary of $56,048.Average education levels between the two professions vary. 2nd grade teachers tend to reach similar levels of education than elementary school teachers. In fact, they're 2.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for elementary school teachers in the next 3-5 years?
Dr. Diana Jones
Chair, Department of Kinesiology, Anderson University
Elementary school teacher vs. Teacher
Being a teacher is one of the most passionate professions, among others. Teachers educate, motivate, and guide every generation of learners to prepare them for the real world. Every teacher is unique and has their own teaching styles and methods depending on the subject they teach and the age of their students. Oftentimes they also function as a parent, counselor, coach, friend, and even a lawmaker. There is essentially no limit to the roles a teacher portrays.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from elementary school teacher resumes include skills like "instructional strategies," "remainder," "physical education," and "grade curriculum," whereas a teacher is more likely to list skills in "handle scheduling," "kids," "cpr," and "geography. "
Teachers make a very good living in the education industry with an average annual salary of $49,700. On the other hand, elementary school teachers are paid the highest salary in the government industry, with average annual pay of $56,048.teachers typically earn similar educational levels compared to elementary school teachers. Specifically, they're 3.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.5% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Elementary school teacher vs. Pre-k teacher
Pre-K teachers play an essential role in the lives of young children ages three to five years old by developing and nurturing their interest in subjects appropriate for their age. They promote a creative learning environment and encourage social interactions among students while providing the fundamental educational foundation that will prepare them for a successful start to kindergarten. They are responsible for overseeing children during their mealtimes, reinforcing personal hygiene, and developing children's social skills. Pre-K teachers also plan curriculum and work with other school staff members.
Types of elementary school teacher
Updated January 8, 2025
